British legend Tony Hand to be inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame

The 49-year-old made 245 appearances for the Steelers after making his debut in 1995, spending four seasons in South Yorkshire and winning a grand slam in his first season. During his time at the club, he scored a total of 424 points, including 151 goals.

Hand shot to fame when he became the first British-raised player to be drafted by an NHL side when he was picked up by the Edmonton Oilers in 1986.

He never got to play in the show, however, opting to return to enjoy a stellar career in Great Britain and going on to score 4,250 points over an illustrious 34 years as a player.

Hand, who has been head coach of Manchester Phoenix in the English Premier League since 2006, will receive the Richard ‘Bibi’ Torriani Award - for an outstanding career by a player from a non-top hockey nation - as part of the 2017 inductees.

The ceremony will take place in Cologne, Germany on May 21 - the final day of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships.

“I am honoured to receive this award, it really is fantastic,” said Hand. “I would like to thank my family, all the coaches I have worked with and all my former team-mates.

“I would also like to thank the IIHF committee for this nomination, it is something very special. This is something I will really cherish and I feel proud to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.”

Ice Hockey UK chairman, Richard Grieveson, said Hand’s award was something fully deserved and was further proof of the respect he is held in throughout the hockey world.

“He is a legend in UK ice hockey and has done so much for the sport in this country,” said Grieveson. “This shows the respect Tony has worldwide and I would like to congratulate him on his award.”